Welcome to the third discussion on Summer Crafting for Kids. Including negative space painting, tie-dyeing the coffee filters, stitching on a paper plate, and more, with these UNIQUE summer crafts, you will learn many CLEVER and NEW ways of crafting.
As for the themes, along with the sun, fish, octopus, ocean, and fire, I have also included two spring themes.
That is the ladybug and the butterfly. Most of these crafts will come with FREE printable templates that make them really easy for preschoolers. My favorite techniques used here are the scrape painting, painting with pom pom, and watercoloring! Now, enjoy the summer with the kids.
Note: This is not my first discussion on SUMMER crafts. I have already talked about the ways to craft for summer in general and watermelon crafts in particular. If you are interested, check them afterwards, too.
Suggestion #1: Paper Plate Ice Cream Cone Craft
With a FREE template to cut scalloped scoops from a paper plate, this ice cream cone craft should be fun, easy, and quick. You will be making a two-scoop melting ice cream with a wafer in a square shape.
However, an obvious customization may be to take a cutout for the wafer and use only circular scoops. Also, add a criss-cross pattern using acrylic paint marker in dark brown and glue the sprinkle strips.
Suggestion #2: Easy Fish Painting For Kids
This CUTE and 3D fish painting is a “coloring, cutting, and gluing” craft for preschoolers. Yes! There is a FREE printable template to take the beta fish, water bubbles, and sea grass cutouts. You can color each using liquid watercolors before cutting.
To prepare the ocean scene, mix shades of blue and green and add hints of yellow. Glitter and the use of white art paper will make this painting stand out even more!
Suggestion #3: Easy Paper Sun Craft That Kids Will Love
This COOL GUY cardstock sun is a simple craft with a downloadable FREE template for the black glasses and mouth. Made 3D by adding the loops of yellow strips around as the rays of the sun.
The shape of the sun is actually an oval, so you will also want a cutting machine template for it. Otherwise, a circle works fine. 14 strips are needed for the rays.
Suggestion #4: Yarn Wrapped Octopus Craft
Let’s craft colorful and cute octopus pencil holders using tissue paper rolls, yarn scraps, and googly eyes. For one holder, you will only require one roll as the arms are cut from it, too. Paint the roll in your favorite color.
Then cut eight strips halfway up the roll and curl them outward. The fun part is wrapping yarns in many colors around. You can use any number of colors!
Suggestion #5: DIY Fire Craft for Summer
Summer sees the peak activity in camping! So, crafting this campfire from yarn and cardboard on a paper plate is a pretty relevant option. To play the s’mores activity, we shall also craft a cardstock stick with a marshmallow cutout glued at the end.
Start by cutting a flame shape out of the center and punching holes around. Then use a plastic needle and orange yarn to knit through the holes. This is perfect for teaching kids the basic stitching!
Suggestion #6: Easy Shark Painting
Upcoming Shark Week is starting on July 6, 2026. So, let’s craft this UNIQUE shark painting with a free TEMPLATE for a negative space shark in the middle. If you draw it on a canvas panel, it will be an irresistible shark costume add-on using a string.
To make the bubbles around the shark, you will need different shades of blue and soak the pom poms with paint to make the bubbles. This clever idea makes this drawing beautiful and authentic.
Suggestion #7: Ladybug Rock Painting
Paint these kawaii ladybugs on the rocks and decorate your little garden. In my childhood, no greater feeling I could have than to find a ladybug or mini dragonfly perched on a grass slice. That’s why kids are gonna love these miniature ladybug decorations.
Paint the rock red to begin with. With the googly eyes and dashed white antennae, they look even cuter. You can draw this ladybug on a rock of any size and shape, as the only dividing line, spots, and the mouth have to be drawn later!
Suggestion #8: Paper Plate Rainbow Fish Craft
The inspiration for this paper plate fish is “The Rainbow Fish,” which is a classic storybook. However, scrape painting is used to color, which makes it easy for preschoolers. Paint a paper plate blue and let it dry.
Then cut a piece on one side to make the mouth, and glue the same piece to the other side to make the tail. For the scales, you can use a stalk or a cardboard tube dipped in a color mix.
Suggestion #9: Make Coffee Filter Butterflies
These coffee filter butterflies are colorful and one of the easiest to make. Require coffee filters, washable markers, beads, zipper bags, and pipe cleaners. First, flatten the filters on a gallon-size bag and draw a butterfly pattern using a marker.
Mist the filters with water to blend the ink to make a tie-dye effect. After they dry, fan-fold two filters and stack them. Follow the remaining process in the tutorial! My favorite is the aqua, green, and yellow butterfly.
Suggestion #10: Paper Plate Sun Craft
Ending this discussion with an easy activity for toddlers and preschoolers. To start, paint a paper plate with thin coats of yellow.
While it dries, you can use the free template to cut out a cute sun face and rays. As the plate is dry, glue the face and attach the rays around the back edge.
